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Single Idea 12385

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / a. Explanation]

Full Idea

Which of the middle terms is explanatory for the particulars - the one which is primitive in the direction of the universal, or the one which is primitive in the direction of the particular?

Gist of Idea

Are particulars explained more by universals, or by other particulars?

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 99b09)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.72


A Reaction

I'm not clear about this, but it shows Aristotle wrestling with the issue of whether explanations are of particulars or universals, and whether they employ particulars as well as employing universals. The particular must be defined!